HBCU Classic Sports
Fall 2026
Football Edition, Volume I
Team
Player
Position
Height/Weight
College
Atlanta
Chris Blair
WR
6’2, 205
Alcorn State
Baltimore
Carl Vinson
OL
6’7, 325
Alabama A&M
Cleveland
Shedeur Sanders
QB
6’2, 212
Jackson State
Tytus Howard
OL
6’5, 320
Alabama State
Jimmy Horn Jr.
WR
5’8, 174
Jackson State
Carolina
Claudin Cherelus
LB
6’2, 230
Alcorn State
Dallas
Markquese Bell
OL
6’5, 205
Florida A&M
James Houston
LB
6’1, 248
Jackson State
Cobie Durant
DB
5’11, 187
SC State
Isaiah Land
OL
6’5, 205
Florida A&M
LA Rams
Xavier Smith
WR
5’9, 174
Florida A&M
Minnesota
Elijah Williams
DE
6’3, 298
Morgan State
Green Bay
Javon Hargrave
DT
6’3, 307
SC State
San Francisco
KhaDarel Hodge
WR
6’2, 210
Prairie View A&M
Brandon Codrington
DB
5’9, 185
NC Central
Andrew Farmer
DB
6’3, 250
Lane
Tennessee
Joshua Williams
CB
6’3, 193
Fayetteville State
Jacksonville
Travis Hunter
WR
6’2,185
Jackson State
Cam’Ron Silmon Craig
DB
5’10,185
Jackson State
Seattle
Emanuel Wilson
RB
5’11, 226
Fort Valley State
Indianapolis
Grover Stewart
DT
6’5, 315
Albany State
Washington
Trent Scott
OL
6’5, 320
Grambling
Source: www.nfl.com 9/20/2026
Jerry Rice to Pro Football HOF
Mississippi Valley State WR, Jerry Rice, is NFL All-time Career Leading WR
11x All-Pro, 4x Super Bowl Champion
Walter Payton to Pro Football HOF
Jackson State RB, Walter Payton, 7x All-Pro, Super Bowl Champ.
Arguably NFL’s most prolific rusher.
Art Shell to Pro Football HOF
Drafted from Maryland State, now Maryland Eastern Shore, Shell played 14 seasons, won three Super Bowls XI, XV, XVIII, 8x Pro Bowl, 4x All-Pro, 7x All-AFC, 1970 All Decade Team.
Shell is the 2nd Black Head Coach in NFL history, 1990 AFC Coach of the Year, 1990 NFL Coach of the Year.
Deacon Jones to Pro Football HOF
MSVU DE, Deacon Jones, known as the “Secretary of Defense”, coined the term “sack”. Leader of the “Fearsome Foursome”, his speed, agility and endurance was unmatched.
Missing only 5 games in 14 seasons, the 8x Pro Bowler, 8x All-Pro, 2x DPOY, 1960 All-Decade Team, NFL 50th/75th Anniversary Team revolutionized the modern defensive end position.
Buck Buchanan to Pro Football HOF
#1 overall AFL draft pick, 13 seasons, 6 All-Star Games, 2 Pro Bowls, 1 Super Bowl.
Modern DL prototype, 6’7, 270, ran 10.2/100; played 166 consecutive games.
Willie Brown to Pro Football HOF
Undrafted Grambling CB played 16 seasons in NFL, arguably the best DB ever.
5x AFL All-star, 4x Pro Bowl, 3x All-AFL, 4x All-NFL, Super Bowl Champ XI, 54 INT.
Michael Strahan to Pro Football HOF
Texas Southern DE, Michael Strahan, 5x All-Pro , Season Sack Record with 22.5.
(courtesy: www.nygiants.com)
Larry Little to Pro Football HOF
Undrafted Bethune-Cookman, OL, Larry Little, stalwart of perfect 1972 Dolphins.
1972 Super Bowl Champ, 6x All-NFL, 5x All-AFC, 5x Pro Bowl
NFLPA AFC Lineman of Year 3x.
Claude Humphrey to Pro Football HOF
Tennessee State DE, Claude Humphrey, 7x NFL All-Pro, 94.5 career sacks.
(photo courtesy:atlantafalcons.com)
courtesy:TSU Sports Info
Date: February 14, 2014
Nashville, TN – Humphrey was an All-American defensive tackle at TSU who went on to be one of the greatest passes rushers in the National Football League.
Full story
Richard Dent To Pro Football HOF
Tennessee State DE, Richard Dent, 3x All-American, 2x Super Bowl Champ, 137.5 career sacks.
(courtesy: Tennessee State Athletics)
courtesy: TSU Sports Info
Release: 02/05/2011
Nashville, Tenn. – Former Tennessee State University defensive end, Richard Dent, has been voted for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame for 2011. He becomes the first TSU Tiger to be inducted while joining professional football’s elite.
Full story
Shannon Sharpe to Pro Football HOF
Savannah State TE, Shannon Sharpe, 5x All-Pro, 3x Super Bowl Champion.
courtesy: SSU Sports Info
2/12/2011 1:57:26 PM
SAVANNAH, GA — Savannah State alumnus Shannon Sharpe has been named to the 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame along with Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk , Richard Dent, Ed Sabol, Les Richter and Chris Hanburger.
Full story
Aeneas Williams to Pro Football HOF
Southern CB, Aeneas Williams, a walk-on, became NFL “ballhawk” for 14 years.
Harry Carson to Pro Football HOF
SC State LB, Harry Carson, 7x All-Pro, Super Bowl Champ, NYG centerpiece for 13 years.
